From: The London Free Press
Exotic foods rich in polyphenol antioxidants, such as goji berries, noni and acai berries are often considered superfoods, since they possess a range of qualities beneficial to human health.
But products containing the organic properties of these foods may not actually be worth the often sky-high prices charged by their manufacturers.
Of all the "superfruits" to hit the North American market in recent months, acai berries have likely garnered the most attention.
The fruit comes from the Euterpe oleracea, a palm tree species that grows mostly in the Amazon rainforest of northern Brazil.
It has a long history of use by the local population, as much for its fruit as for the subtle taste of the young palm shoots, known as palm hearts.The fruit's popularity has soared, across the rest of Brazil where it is served chilled in smoothies on the beaches of Rio, and around the world as well.
The interest in acai berries is due in large part to their high levels of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, two plant molecules which act as very strong antioxidants.
Laboratory studies have shown acai extract is potentially a good antioxidant which could help reduce damage to blood vessels caused by free radicals as well as inflammation, two processes involved in the development of chronic disease.
Despite the high interest in its potential as an antioxidant, it's important to note that there are other beverages containing similar, if not higher, levels of antioxidants than acai.
Pomegranate juice, red wine and grape juice can all boast higher antioxidant levels than acai berries, and comparable are the juice of blueberries and cranberries.
Some juices containing acai berries are often sold between $30 and $60 a litre.